Anxiety in college can seem almost normalized, especially with the constant stressors and fears of failing. But some of these “anxiety symptoms” can be over-exaggerated. We usually see this happen when you hear your classmate say “That quiz almost gave me a panic attack”; or when your roommate says “The RA’s just give me so much anxiety, it's not even funny”. But to some other students, anxiety is terrifyingly real. So much so that students can have diagnosed panic disorders, or different types of anxiety disorders. (GAD, “Generalized Anxiety Disorder”, OCD “Obssesive Compulsive Disorder”, PTSD “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”, and Social Phobia or “Social Anxiety Disorder”). I myself am in the latter group, and if you find yourself in that group then there may be a few takeaways from this blog!! Here are 5 tips to help cope with anxiety! *Be advised, I am not a licensed psychologist and the advice given here is to help cope with anxiety. Please be mindful when reading through my survival guide* Tip Numero Uno- Be cognizant of what you are putting into your body, This means to be aware of what you are drinking and eating. It may seem simple and almost ridiculous, but many foods that can increase symptoms of anxiety contain caffeine or even alcohol. The stimulating effects of caffeinated foods and beverages can increase feelings of nervousness, irritability, and even shaking or trembling. Alcohol can “dehydrate you and increase these sensations as well. Tip Number two: Pick things up and put things down Can exercise be more effective than medication? According to the Huffington Post, research has suggested this to be the case. Creating a regular routine of cardiovascular and weight training exercises have shown to improve mood, reduce stress, and increase energy levels. This can even reduce physical pain symptoms that one may be feeling. This is my own personal way of coping with stress and it helps me tremendously. Turn that stress and frustration into a healthy outlet. The hardest part about the gym is starting, so get out there and get to it. Tip Nummer Drei: SLEEP MORE! As college students, this may be one we tend to take for granted the most. My goodness what I would do to go back to pre-k and have nap time in college now. *Crying intensifies* But seriously, disrupted sleep and poor sleep schedules can add on to these anxiety symptoms and stressors. Losing just a few hours of sleep can increase stress, sadness, exhaustion and anger. So practice a bedtime ritual, something relaxing right before bed that will help you get to sleep faster. Avoid naps in the afternoon; utilize your bed for sleep and sex only as to associate your bed with sleep; and exercise ! (It's so nice its mentioned twice) Tip Bilang Apat: Remind yourself that you are okay and these feelings will pass Everyone in the world experiences stress in some fashion or another, but it is up to you as to how you will let your mind and body react to it. Recognize that it is okay to feel the way you are feeling and that you are experiencing something that is commonly referred to as anxiety. TRY not to argue against it, and instead lean forward into the scary place of anxiety. Although uncomfortable, acknowledging that you are feeling anxious will help activate the body’s natural relaxation response! SCIENCE. Tip Number Five: Find ways to relax your mind and body
Most sensations of anxiety are actually our body’s natural “fight or flight” response being kicked into high gear due to stress for no apparent reason sometimes. Sometimes, the stress just needs to be something that is imagined, such as presenting in front of a large group and bombing or thinking you will fail an exam. But there are a few techniques that can help:
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